Zoom Classroom Outline - Letter from Principal Kaszynski

March 31, 2020

Dear Our Lady of Lourdes School Families,

“How many fathers, mothers, grandparents and teachers are showing our children, in small everyday gestures, how to face up to and navigate a crisis…Prayer and service: these are our victorious weapons.” Pope Francis

I hope that this letter finds all of you in good health as I write to both “re-cap” and give you an update.

Our school community has completed a challenging time since the quarantine began on March 23 and each of us remains sequestered in our homes. Everyday life has required an adjustment and we are still in that process. The unfamiliar out-of-control situation in which we find ourselves has upset our equilibrium. Whether they show it or not, our students are feeling it too, and so we want to do everything in our power to help them through this unprecedented experience.

School, too, has required an adjustment. There has been a learning curve for us all as we familiarize ourselves with the different aspects of Google Classroom. Thank you for contacting your child’s (children’s) teacher(s) with questions. Likewise, our teachers were able to troubleshoot some “glitches” they discovered when they made parent calls and you communicated with them. There is always some stress associated with change, but I am hoping that some of the stress is being alleviated as we move forward.

I continue to encourage you to keep your child on a set schedule. Signing (typing one’s name) the attendance form takes place at 8:00 A.M. for K-8 and 8:30 A.M. for early childhood students when their parents sign for them. I have made a video each day with a prayer and a message for the students which the teachers post in their Google Classroom (GC). Please encourage your child to watch it and to pray along. All family members are invited to participate. Assignments are posted in GC as well. The teachers and I understand that a number of families are juggling computers and so some student work cannot be completed in real time. It is important, though, that student work is completed and submitted. Third quarter report cards will be issued to K-8 students; the end of the third quarter is April 8.

There is something new to report. At the end of last week, the Archdiocesan Superintendent of Schools Office issued the protocol and guidelines for video conferencing. Each faculty has met as a group to review these. Video conferencing (remote learning) means that students and teacher can meet in real time through the technology of a Zoom meeting. A teacher would post a link in Google Classroom and the students (parents of the younger students) would click on the link which would bring them into the “classroom” at the appointed time where teacher and student could see and hear each other. It has been recommended that we record the class so that those students who cannot view the class at the scheduled time can view it at a time when they have access to the computer. Students and teachers being together in a “live” class will bring back much-needed joy in learning for all of us. It is the teacher’s option to participate.

I am meeting “live” with every grade as well. I ask for everyone’s patience in this new endeavor.

A commitment to student safety is of prime importance. For this reason, there must be strict adherence to Archdiocesan Safe Environment regulations. For example, there can be no direct electronic communication between an adult and a minor. In other words, video conferencing takes place between a class of students and a teacher, never between one student and a teacher. There are also student etiquette tenets which point to the fact that students have responsibilities, too. The overarching principle is that the rules of our regular classroom apply whenever students and teacher are working together.

Some of these rules are:

*Find a quiet space and ask your family members to please not interrupt you during class.

*Respect your teacher and fellow classmates and listen attentively.

*Follow directions.

*Dress appropriately.

*Raise your hand to answer.

*Do not share a link to a “class” with anyone other than your parent.

A student etiquette information sheet accompanies this parent letter and teachers will be discussing this with their students.

We continue to lean on our faith. If you did not watch Pope Francis’ “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and to the World) blessing last Friday, you can see a recording. Just google Pope Francis blessing. It is timeless and truly worth watching. Sunday Mass with Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan is livestreamed from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This coming Sunday, Palm Sunday, and the following Sunday, Easter Sunday, Mass will begin at 10:00 A.M. You can also view it online on the Catholic Faith Network or on TV Channel 11. Many churches of other denominations are also livestreaming their services.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if there is anything you or your child needs.

Leaving you a closing thought:

“…This is God’s strength: turning to the good everything that happens to us…He brings serenity into our storms, because with God life never dies.” Pope Francis

Sincerely,

Suzanne Kaszynski

Principal

468 West 143rd Street New York 10031 | Phone: 212-926-5820 | Fax: 212-491-6034 | www.ollnyc.org  AdvanceEd Accredited NCA

Student Behavior Guidelines for Live Video Conferencing

What are you wearing?

You might not need to be in uniform since you are at home and not at school, but you will be seen by your teacher and your classmates which means you cannot be wearing anything inappropriate.

Where are you filming?

Remember, the video screen will show not only what you are wearing but where you are recording. Whenever possible you should try and sit up like you would at your desk in school. Look at what is behind you that will show in the video - whatever you wouldn’t want classmates or teachers to see should not be visible.

Who else is home?

Before logging on to a live video conference with your teacher and classmates, you should let whoever else is at home with you know that you’ll be doing that. Be sure to let an adult know that this is important and you really shouldn’t be interrupted.

While you are participating in the live discussion, remember the rules of your classroom:

If your teacher or another student is talking - you must be quiet and listening

If you have a question, instead of raising your hand like in class, you can type your question in the comments/chat feature and your teacher will answer the questions in the order she receives them

The comments/chat feature is viewed by everyone and is NOT meant for side conversations - it should only be used to communicate your questions for your teacher

REMEMBER - the rules of your classroom apply whenever you are working with your teacher and fellow students. The same behavior expectations from your classroom should be how you behave!